I’m having a tough time ‘feeling’ like Christmas this year. I’m not sure if it’s because the decorations were up when I was still wearing shorts, [this is in Atlanta] or maybe this is just a case of burn out BEFORE the holiday stress.
We were decorating the house today, and I’m still feeling nonplussed about the whole thing.
SO! What do you do to get yourself in the holiday spirit???
Okay, maybe this is corny, but last Saturday I spent 2 hours ringing a bell outside a grocery store for the Salvation Army. I did it on behalf of Rotary–another oft mocked group that nonetheless pumps work and megabucks against world problems.
My feet turned to lumps of ice, I heard that danged bell for hours–but it was amazing. At the meeting today, the volunteer bellringers all said the same thing: kids and those who looked like they could least afford it were the most generous. (And to forestall comfy, classist sterotypes, every Man Jack and Woman Jill in the club forked out to match the donations–and more. That’s why I truly respect Rotary; it keeps the fortunate in touch with reality.)
I loved it, cold and sniffly and all. The smiles and friendly comments made it all real. Wanna get in the spirit? Honestly—give! Ain’t nuthin’ like it.
Veb
I agree with the giving, but I can’t say it as perfectly as TVeblen did, so I’ll move on to other ways to get in the holiday spirit …
–I sometimes treat myself to a new holiday CD.
–I’ve been reading the Christmas movie thread and taking notes, and I’m trying to see a bunch that I haven’t seen before. Mr. Del is in charge of this little project, and he’s been quite involved with planning a schedule of holiday movie viewing, carefully balancing comedies, tear jerkers, old classics, and new films.
–I didn’t manage it this year, but I usually like to pick one new decorating idea that I’ve always wanted to try. Last year it was doing a tree with just silver and blue ornaments, and blue lights.
–We have a toy donation box at work. For the past few years, I’ve borrowed someone’s children (I don’t have any kids myself) and brought them shopping with me. I gave each kid $15 to pick out a toy to donate. It was a blast watching the kids get real serious about their money and determined to get the “best” toy to donate to a less fortunate child.
–I buy a kids holiday picture book each year, and display my collection by the tree. Last year it was The Polar Express, and I haven’t picked out a book for this year yet. I pack them up with the decorations each year, so every Christmas I really enjoy reading them throughout the season. I try to get a mix of old favorites from my own childhood and new books recently published.
–A few of my friends and I decided to stop giving gifts to each other, and instead pool the money and purchase a few seasonal floral arrangements and send them to a nursing home. (Our goal is to someday be crafty enough and organized enough to make these holiday arrangements ourselves.) The staff puts them in the rooms of residents who don’t have many cards or decorations for whatever reason, usually because they don’t have any family. (We called the nursing home first to make sure they had a need for this!)
–Like the geek that I am, I spend some time finding a nice Christmas-y picture to use as my desktop on the computer, and change some of the alerts to holiday-ish sounds. For some reason, I get a huge kick out of “decorating” my computer.
Thanks for the suggestion, and you’re right, ** delphica ** Veb did put it quite eloquently and on point. I’ve been too into my own head… and that’s never the best place to be, is it??
I loved your ideas though, delphie!! You need to start a ‘What I did to make Christmas memorable thread’!!
Merry Christmas 
I don’t much like the holiday season. It reminds me that my father is dead and that I don’t have a significant other to spend them with.
Still, I put a living xmas tree in my cubicle (I don’t believe in killed trees… as for putting it in the cube, no one would see it at home) with a little N-scale train going around the base.
Simple, rent a movie.
The flick that kicked my X-mas spirit into gear this year was Santa Who?, which was on ABC a few weeks ago. BTW, it prompted me to start this thread, which never quite took off. Guess Christmas spirits weren’t high enough to keep it alive at the time of its posting.
Anyway, may I recommend Bill Murray’s Scrooged. The first two Die Hard movies, being set in X-mas, could also help to get you in the Christmas mood. I mean, what could be jollier than Bruce Willis kicking some terrorist’ ass?
Merry Christmas to you too!!!
TVeblen
For every reply to a post bearing this sig I am generously donating 1 cent to the International Center for the Cryogenic Preservation of Cecil Adams
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I’m sorry for the loss of your dad, Johnny L.A., holidays ARE tough when your heart hurts.
** quasar ** I’m sorry that I missed your earlier thread. But, because I was having trouble feeling ‘in the spirit’ NOW, I SURE wouldn’t have been when you posted! 
I do own ‘Scrooged’, but it isn’t one of my favorites, I like more off beat kinds of movies like, ‘Come To the Stable’ with Loretta Young, ‘The Story Lady’ with Jessica Tandy, which is sadly in need of recopying, since it’s more fuzz than movie now!
I watch It’s A Wonderful Life. And I contemplate the fact that the Evil Old Rich Dude may not have gotten everything he wanted, but he did get the money. And that the Regular Joes are now out that money, having contributed it to save Jimmy Stewart. And that, since they don’t have that money now, the Regular Joes are going to be hard pressed not to withdraw money from the Savings and Loan, so it’s liable to go belly-up after New Years anyway, so the Evil Old Rich Dude will win in the end, so Jimmy Stewart will be out of a job, so his wife will divorce him and take the kids, so JS will go back and throw himself in the river somewhere around Valentine’s Day. And thatgets me in the proper holiday spirit.
Bah, humbug.
Sure understand that one, Johnny. Both my parents are dead now, and my much-loved sis is too far away to get to. (And just wrapped up a nasty divorce!)
Honestly don’t mean to sound like an Oprah reject, but in some ways it’s been a relief. Shedding the ballyhoo, expectations and hype can strip things down to basics and breathe new life into them. In a lot of ways, doing little “decorator” stuff, having fun with gifts, doing something good and relaxing on Christmas is pretty wonderful.
It’s a forceful heart/mental adjustment though, and here’s wishing you all the best.
Veb
My apologies to Anti Pro and everyone else for my previous post. Suffice it to say that this is my first Christmas after the divorce, and the only holiday spirit I have comes out of a bottle of Jim Beam.
Again, sorry.
{{{{{{{{MysterTerminatorEcks}}}}}}}} you need never apologize. My son and I were putting up the Christmas tree, and it’s over eight feet tall, and it took EVERYTHING in me to get it into the tree stand. And my unhusband came home, walked by us, never saying a word. Loneliness is tough, whatever package you’re carrying it around in.
I don’t drink, but I make a mean pinapple punch, punkin’, come on over and we’ll toast to my still crooked-in-its’ stand Christmas tree!
Hugs to Anti Pro and MysterEcks—and all the other folks who are alone in whatever sense. Christmas can be so rough. I’m lucky in some ways; my solitude is a relief and blessing.
No answers, but sending comfort and good wishes your way. Just get through the best you can.
Veb
To get in the spirit, I smoke my Christmas Crack, inject my Holiday Heroin, and drink my All-Saints Alcohol.
It’s fun!
{{{{{{Anti Pro}}}}}} I’m sorry, Anti–I’m afraid there are a lot of us in the same or similar boats. I’ll be spending Christmas with my parents–and I know how lucky I am to still have them–so I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it. But hoist some punch to the tree for me. 
And {{{{{{Veb}}}}}} too. Thank you for your kind words–they help.
I’ll hoist a mug for ye, then sir. {{{{{Veb}}}}} there will be a toast to you too, ma’am.
Lordy, what can I say, hon??? If you’re drugged to the gills, please stay in one spot, and don’t drive… we don’t want to come lookin’ for you, to use a pancake spatula to pick up the pieces of you!!